Kidapawan City has marked August 18 as its official Foundation Anniversary since 2017, based on Executive Order No. 82 of 1947. This order established the municipality, incorporating areas that are now M’lang, Tulunan, and parts of Makilala.
However, the celebration of this date has faced scrutiny. Many residents long before the city's 1998 charter felt that the city's true historical roots were being overlooked.
Prior to 2017, Kidapawan celebrated February 12 as its foundation date, marking its transition to cityhood. This shift to August 18 has been met with mixed feelings, as some locals believe it erases significant historical nuances.
A Rich Historical Tapestry
While EO No. 9 puts the legal founding of the Municipal District of Kidapawan on 8 March 1917, I find it more plausible to put it on 1 September 1914.
Karlo Antonio Galay David
The deeper history reveals that the Municipal District of Kidapawan was created earlier than the 1947 order. According to local archival data, the district was established on March 8, 1917, but earlier documents suggest that Kidapawan existed as a community even before this date.
Anthropologist Faye-Cooper Cole referenced a group called Tigdapaya in 1913, potentially linking to the early inhabitants of the Kidapawan region. This term hints at a much older settlement that predates formal administrative recognition.
- Kidapawan's current foundation date is celebrated as August 18, 1947.
- The city previously observed February 12, marking its cityhood.
- Archival evidence suggests earlier settlements existed, with ties to the name 'Tigdapaya.'
The historical narrative is complicated further by the involvement of local leaders, such as Datu Siawan Ingkal, who played a significant role in the area's political evolution. His account from 1951 indicates that leadership structures were in place prior to official records.
As Kidapawan nears its centennial milestone in 2028, the local government and community face the challenge of reconciling its rich indigenous legacy with the formal history established through colonial governance.